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6 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1908.
In the western part some of the low mounds or ridges reach an
elevation of 75 to 80 feet above sea level, but this section is a comparatively
level plain which slopes gently eastward toward the Gulf
and ends abruptly at the narrow strip of level sand on the shore of.
the bay in a steep bluff, often more than 30 feet high. This broad
plain was formerly an open prairie, supporting a heavy growth of
native grasses, but during comparatively recent years the greater proportion
of it has been covered by a thick growth of mesquite and
cactus. Several large, open prairies, however, are found in the extreme
southern and southwestern sections of the area, though. these
are also rapidly being covered with a low growth of running mesquite
and cactus.
The topography of the uplands bordering the valley of the Nueces
River is more rolling than that of the country situated farther back
from the stream, although the summits of the rounded hills seldom
reach an elevation equal to that of the higher knolls of the comparatively
level plains. The hills are low and rounded and the intervening
valleys are usually quite narrow. However, no deep gullies
have been formed and the sandy soils have suffered very little from
erosion, even along the steeper hillsides.
The land occupying the lower valley of the Nueces River, as well as
that bordering Nueces Bay, is almost level, but low ridges or shallow
depressions sometimes are encountered, causing it to have a gently
undulating topography. These low " flats " have only a slight elevation
above sea level and at times of high water are subject to overflow
by the river. In some places the course of the river approaches
the rolling uplands and the valley becomes very narrow or disappears
altogether. The most extensive "flats" have been formed near the
mouth of the river, where it empties into Nueces Bay, but the greater
area of the low delta land occurs on the northern side of the stream
just outside of the area.
There is a small peninsula in the eastern part of the area lying
between the inlet at the mouth of Oso Creek and the Laguna Madre.
The topography of this section is comparatively level, except along
the northern coast, where a series of large sand dunes have been
formed by the action of the winds. This peninsula is covered by a
dense growth of scrub oak and other native vegetation.
With the exception of the low, flat lands which occur in the lower
valley of the Nueces River and border Nueces Bay, the area as a whole
is fairly well drained. The northern part of the area is drained by
the Nueces River. This stream is perennial, but has no large tributaries
within the area. Oso Creek in the south-central part of the
area follows a general southeasterly course, emptying into an inlet
of Corpus Christi Bay in the southeastern section of the area. This